Counting Down to Datsun

YOKOHAMA – Datsun has revealed sketches giving a preview of the first new generation Datsun car, which will be unveiled at a world premiere event in New Delhi, India on July 15.

The car will be the first product aimed for the Indian market – and the first of the future Datsun model line-up to be launched from 2014.

The premiere event will not only unveil the new model, but also introduce the Datsun brand whose return to the market was announced in March 2012.

It marks a significant milestone and a new chapter in the history of this legendary brand aimed for high-growth markets like India, Indonesia and Russia in 2014 to be followed by South Africa later in the year.

Although Datsun models will be individually developed for different markets, the concept will follow a common inspiration.

All future Datsun models will offer up-and-coming customers in high-growth markets an engaging driving experience, peace of mind ownership and accessibility at the right and transparent price with a competitive total cost of ownership.

These product values will be supported by Nissan Motor Company's experience as a global car manufacturer and technical expertise for local optimized solutions.

The 21st century Datsun will deliver a rewarding brand experience with no compromise in terms of accessibility, reliability and durability – the values deep routed in the Datsun heritage.

"Datsun will bring competitive products and services, modern and aspirational, while at the same time reassuring, providing superior value and specifically developed for the emerging and ambitious new Middle Class in high-growth markets," said Vincent Cobee, Head of Datsun.

"The Datsun cars will be locally developed with the support of Nissan Motor Company engineers and stylists and will be locally produced."

Datsun has also launched a new website, Datsun.com. Brand and product information will be available after July 15th.

About Datsun Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced the return of the Datsun brand, Nissan's third global brand, alongside Nissan and Infiniti, in March 2012. Datsun will provide a sustainable motoring experience to optimistic up-and-coming customers in high-growth markets. Datsun represents 80 years of accumulated Japanese car-making expertise and is an important part of Nissan's DNA. Datsun vehicles will start sales in India, Indonesia, Russia and South Africa from 2014.

Datsun History Datsun originated in Japan as DAT-GO (the DAT-car) almost a century ago in 1914. The word DAT means 'lightning-fast' in Japanese but is also a reference to the first letters of family names of the three financiers who supported the business at the time: Den, Aoyama and Takeuchi. Using the same logic, it was promoted as Durable, Attractive and Trustworthy, or DAT for short.

In 1933, Nissan's founding father Yoshisuke Aikawa took over the business with a vision of "mobility for all." The introduction of a light weight, economical yet resilient car to meet the aspirations of young Japanese people in the early 1930s was named the "son of DAT" – Datson - which later changed to Datsun. Local engineering and mass-production made the founder's dream a reality.